Does getting bitten by a mosquito transmit AIDS to others?
Mar 17, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Introduction
AIDS is a systemic disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is primarily transmitted through blood, vaginal secretions, and breast milk. When a mosquito feeds on the blood of an infected individual, HIV enters the mosquito's stomach, where it is rapidly destroyed by gastric acid and digestive processes. Therefore, HIV cannot survive or replicate within the mosquito's body.
Generally, people with HIV/AIDS do not transmit the virus to others through mosquito bites. The detailed explanation is as follows:
AIDS is a systemic disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is mainly transmitted through blood, semen, vaginal secretions, and breast milk. When a mosquito bites an infected person and ingests their blood, the HIV enters the mosquito's stomach, where it is rapidly destroyed by gastric acids and digestive processes. Therefore, HIV cannot survive or replicate inside a mosquito's body. Additionally, a mosquito's mouthparts are unidirectional—they can only suck blood and cannot inject blood back into another host. Thus, even if a mosquito has bitten an individual with AIDS, it cannot transmit the virus to another person.
In daily life, it is important to take mosquito-preventive measures, such as using mosquito nets and insect repellents, and avoiding outdoor activities during peak mosquito activity times, to reduce discomfort and the risk of diseases associated with mosquito bites.
